OBITUARY: RACHEL LILBURN

Rachel Lilburn was a lecturer in the Department of Library and Information Studies (from 1997 the School of Information Management) from 1992-2008. During that time she was the creator and course coordinator of two key courses in the Master of Library and Information Studies programme: INFO 534 Introduction to Archives Management and INFO 535 Introduction to Records Management.

Rachel joined the department at a crucial time when the existing diploma programme was being upgraded to Master’s. The inclusion of archives and records management courses was vital in the new Master’s programme which was designed to ensure that professionals were being educated for a range of roles, and could move between roles as part of a new professional field of information management. The courses Rachel designed were thorough, well researched and well subscribed. At the same time department was breaking new ground at Victoria by introducing the MLIS by distance learning to ensure that those who were unable to undertake on-campus study in Wellington had access to the best professional qualification that we could offer. Rachel was wholeheartedly behind these endeavours, equal opportunities for women and postgraduate education for archivists and records managers being missions to which she was totally committed.

As well as her professional expertise (prior to her appointment Rachel was Head Appraisal Archivist at National Archives (now Archives NZ) and was their first local authorities archives/records advisory officer). Rachel brought energy and passion to her new role. She was an enthusiastic, committed and refreshing colleague, always seeking the best for her students, and maintaining lasting friendships with some of them. Rachel had an extensive network of colleagues from around the world whose respect for her was shown in their willingness to visit the School, and her growing reputation led to her appointment as a member of the Archives Council from 2005-2008.

In addition to her Master’s thesis completed at Western Washington University, Rachel published over 20 articles and short papers in sources as varied as Library Life, New Zealand Archivist to more academic sources such as Archifacts, and Government Information Quarterly. Some had arresting titles! ‘Public archives: heritage happiness or horror story?,’ ‘The Ham report: miniskirt or maxi,’ or ‘Tuku, the thief, his wife, and the lover: are archives good for us?’ Such titles are memorable examples of Rachel’s infectious sense of fun, her fearless commitment to professional issues, and her willingness to challenge authority in pursuit of excellence and to demand the same of her colleagues and students. She was a valued and stimulating colleague, and we are saddened by her premature passing.